How-to Hacks that keep your car clean (24/7)

The work/life balance in a car can get real sticky, and you may be looking to avoid some of the car cleaning products, if not I hope you kept your receipt. I am going to share with you some of the myths to seperate from the facts, and hacks that I have learned over the 2.5 years of car ownership.

1. Car Washes Under $5

Go to a self-wash car wash and look at the diagram that shows you about 8 or so different steps to washing your car. You do not need all of these. You need to think of your car as washing a plate. The Home Improvement show from the 90s had an episode that said it best, wash your dish before you put it in the dishwasher. This is just about all you need almost, it is the rinse, then a little soap in it with the high pressure at the self-washes, this is where you start working from the driver's side to the passenger side, getting each tire and blowing off ice- don't spray up into the car much, and use one arm further down the spray nozzle. Spray long sweeping motions across the car, with a two handed grip. Return to the dial to rinse again, be thorough and intentional. This shouldn't take longer than 4 minutes, set a timer on your phone and you will have actually spent under $4.00, last time mine was $3.57 then I still had some money for vacuuming. The time afterwords it was $2.57. This is about $5 dollars every was and I go at least twice a month so it can be over $120 a year.

2. Disguise a Trashcan

Some trashcans grip to your mats, or connect with a hook; and some trashcans are ordered online and never sent and received at all. In cases like this just get a small reusable bag with something to weigh it down. Go grab that rock you painted into a mandala. This needs to not look like a trashbag on the outside. Don't hang your trash on your seat if you are extra messy, just keep it on the floor so it doesn't move around and you don't have to reach extra hard to throw anything away. Always empty when it's full, no exceptions.

3. Hot Water and a Microfiber Cloth

You cannot spray the interior of your car with just any sort of spray, if you haven't noticed. It may deteriorate the finish. The safest way to start is by using hot water, and work your way up. Now you can find a suitable anti-bacterial based on the material. You may continue by testing products when you spray a paper towel first, until damp and rub on a small area. Make sure it is in a less visible area.

4. Get bins from TJ MAXX

Make it easy to leave your car for a period of time and get bins, one for clean and one for things to get rid of or go through and put them in the trunk when your mind is ready to go through it, and go through it when it's less than 2 minutes to do, because you'll do it more often. If you work out a lot bring an enclosed dirty clothes container so socks and anything won't make a reeking havoc if you throw one somewhere unreachable

Bonus Mini-Hacks:

When it rains, move your cloth driver side matts to the passenger side.

For all day extra cooling buy a neck fan from Walmart, rechargeable for $16.09 or Amazon $13.99

Follow for more tips, tricks, kind heads up and portable life hacks :)